Frame for supporting vehicle license plates



Aug. 28, 1923. 1,465,944

(3. LATTA FRAME FOR SiJPPORTING VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES Filed Oct. 301922 Patented Aug. 28, 1 923.

UNITED STATES 1,465,944 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES LA'I'TA, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE:ASSIGN- MENTS, TO JOHN BUM, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FRAME FOR SUPPORTING VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES.

Application filed October 30, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES LA'r'rA, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and 6 useful Framefor Supporting Vehicle License Plates, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to frames for supporting vehicle license plates.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved frame forsupporting ayehicle license plate and means for supporting the frame inconnection with the vehicle.

- Another object of the invention is to pro- 16 vide a device embodyingthe subject-matter last above stated, in combination with a cooperativedevice for holding the license plate in position in the frame.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation 20 of a frame forsupporting a circular license plate.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the front portion of the frame.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the rear portion of the frame disconnectedfrom the front portion.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the inside or front of the rear portion of theframe.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the frame for supporting a rectangularlicense plate.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view on the line 1010 of Fig. 9.

The frame shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive is designed and adapted tosupport a circular license plate and comprises an annular frame member 1having an inwardly turned flange 2 at its front end adapted to engagethe edge of a circular license plate 3. The rear end of the frame orring 1 is cut or split in a number of places to provide a number of inwardly extending radial tongues 4.

The other portion of the frame in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7comprises a disc or circular plate 5 insertable within and withdrawablefrom the ring frame 1 and having a number of notches 6 in its edgethrough which the projections 4 pass when the plate 5 is inserted in orwithdrawn or removed from the ring 1. The disc 5 is provided with anumber of inwardly offset notches or recesses 7 adapted to receive theSerial No. 597,843.

projections 4. It is obvious that the disc 5 may be placed within thering 1 by passi the projections 41. through the notches 6; 212% that thedisc 5 may then be turned toposition to engage the projections 4 withinthe notches or recesses 7.

The multiramose spring 8 is attached to the inner side of the disc 5,the arms of said spring being arranged to engage the license plate 3 andpress it against the flange 2 with sufficient pressure to prevent thelicense plate from rattling. A bolt 9 has a polygonal portion 10 at thehead thereof. The bolt 9 passes through the spring 8 and the disc 5,thev polygonal portion 10 of the bolt being received within a polygonalrecess insaid spring and disc. This prevents the parts from turningrelatively. The bolt 9 is of sufficient length and of proper size toextend between the tubes or cells of theradiator of a motor vehicle, soas to support the license plate in front of the radiator. The bolt isequipped with a proper washer 11 and nut 12.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the frame isalso'composed of two parts of which the part I3is rectahgular andperforms the same function in the case of a rectangular license plate asdoes the frame 1 in the case of a circular license plate. The front endof the frame 13 is formed with an in-turned flange 14 which forms a seatfor the rectangular license plate 15 within the frame. The side walls ofthe frame 13 are provided with a number of inwardly extending fingers 16corresponding to the projections 4. The rear part of the frame comprisesa rectangular plate 17 which is of shorter length than the frame 13 andwhich has a number of notches 18 in its edges to receive the projections16. The plate 17 is also formed with a number of inset seats or recessesv1-) to receive the arms 16.

By re fer-cure to Fig. 9 it will be seen that the plate 17 may he placedwithin the frame 13 by passing the arms 16 through the notches 18. andthat the plate I? may then be moved in the proper direction to engagethe arms 16 in the notches or seats 19. A leaf spring 20 is held inconnection with the plate 13 by a bolt 21 in the same way that thespring 8 is held by the bolt 9 and perform a similar function to thespring 8.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l have provided a highlyconvenient and efiicient dgvidet oi' Holding a litiense plate inconnection with the radiator" of a motel vehicle, and that the licenseplate may be easily removeafrom year to year to receive the new platesthat-are required. The specific construction and arrangement may bevaried without departure from the principle of the invention, and I donot restrict my self, unessentially, but what I claim and desire tosecure b Letters Patent is r '1. device or supporting a license plate,comprisiiigia frame for receiving the plate and holding the plate fromvertical movement andfroin lateral movement in any direction, a flangeat one end of said frame adapted to engage the outer sides of the edgesof the license plate, a plate removably mounted in the end of the frameopposite from saidiflan'ge, and a device Within said .frame for pressingthe license plate against saidfflange and for pressing the last-namedflplateiin a direction away from the license Pla H a. a 2, device of thecharacter described, comprising a frame, a flange on the inside of theframe,pro ections on the inside of the frame; aplate engaging and heldwithin the iirame by said projections, a spring in con- With the innerside of said plate, and a: bolt passing through said plate for supporting said, device.

i 3.,A device of the character described, comprisin a frame, means inconnection with-said ,rame for engaging a license plate,

aremovahle rear end platein said frame, a spring supported by saidremovable end plate within said frame for pressing license plate againstsaid means, and a device extending through said rear end plate forsupporting the frame and holding said in osition.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a frame, a flange insaid frame for engaging a license plate, a plate removably mounted inthe frame, means for holding the plate within the frame, a spring inconnection with. the plate for pressingthe license plate against saidmeans, anda device for supporting the frame.

5. A device of the character described, comprisin one end ot l'he frame,inturned fingers at the opposite end of the frame, a plate w'ithititheframe engaging said fingers, a s ring inconnection With said plateextending toward a frame, an inturn'ed flange at the opposite end of theframe, and a bolt passing through said spring and saidplate arrangedtohold said'parts together and to so port the frame. I

ii. A device of the character described,

comprising a frame, means in connect'brr with one end of said frame forengatil'ng a license plate, a removable end pla the opposite end of saidframe, a Spring within said frame pressing said'license plate againstsaid means and pressing! said end plate in a direction awa from thelicense plate, and means'for hol ing said spring in proper position insaid frame and for supporting said Frame.

CHARLES; LATTA.

